The G8/G20 Youth Foreign Affairs Committee tackled a host of issues Thursday before the topic turned to how they would broach peace in Syria. The question came on the final day of discussions before committee delegates would present a finished communiqué to their head’s of state.

Japanese Foreign Youth Minister, Nanami Kawashima, advocated for further sanctions against the Bashar al-Assad regime by way of no-fly zones. English Minister, Mitch Barltrop, Canadian Minister, Andrea Sarkic and German Minister, Esther Marie Franke, however, agreed that sanctions like no-fly zones would inevitably be ignored.

“The situation is worsening by the second,” said Sarkic who wanted tougher sanctions put in place. “There’s no point in applying sanctions that Assad would just disrespect.”

Barltrop echoed the sentiment that time is of the essence in Syria, where government forces are entrenched in a violent conflict against opposition forces since anti-Assad demonstrations began in 2011.

“What’s the lynch pin here?” He asked. “Academics all around the world are saying this will continue.”

Barltrop proposed that strong sanctions like trade embargoes be introduced against any party who would violate the Annan 6-point peace plan that seeks to bring stability to Syria. He also proposed sanction rules be levied on Lebanon, a nation that is notoriously pro-Assad.

The question comes shortly after the Houla Massacre, where government forces are suspected to have killed over 100 innocent men, women, and children.

The Youth Foreign Affairs Committee reached a consensus that heavy sanctions should be brought upon any party that violates the Annan plan as it pertains to Syria.